Car-step



(No Model.)

G. M. BELTON.

GAR STEP. No. 395,687. Patented Jan. 8, 1889.

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UNiTED STATES PATENT Ormes.

GUY M. BELTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,687, dated January 8, 1889.

Application filed September 26, 1888. Serial No. 286,433. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that l', GUY M. BELTON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Steps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in car-steps; and the invention relates more particularly to that class of eX- tension devices` for car-steps, whereby a supplementary step can be lowered quickly to afford easier access from and to the ground than is possible by the use ot' the ordinary steps, which generally do not reach near enough to the ground, in the absence of a depot-platform, to be convenient for passengers in getting olf and on the cars.

The invention Consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the means for raising and lowering vthe supplemental step, whereby it may be quickly raised and lowered from the ground or from the platform of the car, and whereby the apparatus is made simple and substantial, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of an ordinary car-step provided with my device. Eig. 2 is a side elevation showing the supplementary step in its raised position and in dotted lines in its lowered position. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section. Fig. 4t a rear elevation, and Fig. 5 is a detached section through the slidin extension of the handle.

In the drawings, A represents the ordinary car-steps.

B is the supplementary step secured to the lower end ot' two parallel bars, C C, which are slidingly held in bearings I) D, secured upon the under side of the stationary steps.

E is a crank extending the whole width of the car-step and secured transversely below thereof by means of suitable pivotal connections, F E, upon the sides of the car-steps on the outside thereof. One of the crank-arms is extended beyond its pivotal connection with the step to form a hand-lever, G, the free end of which is provided with a sliding sleeve, H, which is extended by means of a spring, I, interposed between the stationary and sliding sleeve, and provided with a setscrew, J, engaging into a recess, K, by means of which the movement of the sliding sleeve is limited.

L is a catch secured upon the corresponding side of the car-step to engage with the sliding' sleeve upon the hand-lever when that slidil'ig sleeve is extended by the normal action of its spring.

M are two parallel crank-rods pivotally secured at one end to eyes or bracketsy N,

which are fastened to the under side of the' supplementary step, and pivotally secured at the other end, by means of the eyes Q, formed thereon, or in any other suitable manner, to the crank E.

In practice, the parts being` constructed and arranged as shown and described, their operation is intended to be as follows: In order to lower the supplemental step, the sliding sleeve II is disengaged from the catch L by pressing it back against the action. of the inolosed spring I, which frees it from the catch. Then the lever is moved by the operator into the position shown in Fig. l and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. l'ly this movement the crank E and crank-rods M carry the supplemental step downwardly, while at the same time the parallel bars C hold the supplemental step in line with the stationary steps, so as to form an extension thereof, when the movement is completed and the further sliding down prevented by the iinpingement of the crank E against the under side of the steps, or respectively the sides thereof. The crank having at this time completed its full stroke, or nearly so, by a reverse movement of the lever G the supplementary step is brought up against the under side of the lower stationary step, beneath which it is concealed when not used. In thus reversing the lever I-I the sliding sleeve strikes against the inclined portion P of the catch, which automatically presses the sliding sleeve H back until it is free to engage with the edge of the catch. In this position the crank E impinges again against the under side of the steps.

The especial advantage of my construction is that the crank-rods M, in connection with the bracket N and crank E, form, in the eX- tended position of the supplementary step, a

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truss for the sliding bars C C, and thereby form an element of great strength, which in the usual construction of such car-steps is generally wanting, unless the parts are made very heavy, thereby detracting from the appearance of the construction and making the device clumsy and awkward to handle.

The crank-rods M are placed back of the parallel bars C C, so as to conceal them and Arender them .most effective. The range or length of the sliding rods C C is made suiiicient to let the supplementary step extend sufficiently down to the ground to effect the object of the device and form a continuation of the stationary steps.` The necessity of strengthening the support of the supplementary step will be well understood when it is considered that passengers are frequently crowding' upon the steps, and if a displacement or bend occurs in any of the operating parts it has been found very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to replace the supplementary steps, which thereby are liable to create danger in entering a depot provided with elevated platforms. The lever in my `construction is within reach of thebrakeman,

whether on the platform or on the ground, and the simple means for automatically locking it greatly facilitates the use of the device.

I deem it important that the rods M be arranged one near each end of the crank E, whereby they add greater strength to the bars and step, and I am enabled to bring said rods behind the bars so as to conceal said rods.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a car-step, the combination, with the permanent steps, of the supplementary step B, the sliding bars C C, carrying that step and engaging into the bearings D, the crank E, laterally extending below the steps, the crank-rods M, connectin g said crank with the supplementary step, the lever G, forming an extension of one arm of the crank, the sliding sleeve II upon saidlever, and the catch L,

provided with the inclined portion P, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose described. A

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of September, 1,888.

GUY M. BELTON.

Witnesses:

G. A. RUMSEY, W. W. LEE. 

